In this connection, NFIR has following suggestions to be considered for incorporating appropriately in the instructions.

(i) The observations of Ministry of Labour who have been repeatedly
bringing to the notice of Railway Board that the number of Apprentices
being trained in Railway Establishments is significantly lower than the
seats allocated by the Regional Directors of Apprenticeship Training
needs to be included in the instructions.

(ii) Depending upon the strength of skilled staff, the joint survey
conducted by the Railway Officials and the Ministry of Labour, it is
seen that nearly 16,772 Apprentices are to be trained and the seats
allotted accordingly vide Board’s letter dated 30/0712012 and modified
para 3.3 of Board’s letter dated 22/07/2002. Therefore, the selection of
units again as mentioned at’A’of the draft instructions is not
acceptable.

(iii) NFIR desires to state that the draft instructions do not
contain the provision that Railway should ensure that only those
designated trades are included in the survey which have a potential for
future recruitment/absorption. This is an important feature needed to be
incorporated as the same is also based on Hon’ble Supreme Court’s
Judgement in the case of UP State Road Transport Corporation V/s UP
Berozgar Samiti and is already existing in para 3.2.1 of Board’s
instructions dated 22/07/2002.

(iv) Since the minimum educational qualification prescribed for
recruitment in the lowest category i.e. GP 1800/- is l0’n pass or its
equivalent in all Government Departments including Indian Railways, the
same should be made applicable for Apprentice also. This fulfils the
condition mentioned in clause 3 (v) of chapter-ll of the Act. There is
thus no need for adding the qualification of ITI or giving any –
additional weightage for the same. The bench mark of 50% marks in
aggregate taking into account the ITI qualification need not be
prescribed. The merit list would however be prepared on the basis of
marks obtained in matriculation or 10th pass or equivalent;

(v) The selection for training as apprentices should be from
following sources duly following Government of India’s Rules for
reservation and age relaxation for various communities/categories as
revised by the Railway Board from time to time:-

There is no need for centralised notification by the Zonal Railway.
The job could be left for the concerned Divisions/Workshops to process
and form lists accordins to merit among the eligible candidates.

NFIR also desires that the proposal be discussed with the Federations further before formulating policy.

Yours faithfully,
(Dr M. Raghavaiah)
General Secretary

Copy to General Secretaries of affiliated Unions of NFIR.Copy to Media Centre/NFIR.
NFIR
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B40Q65NF2_7UNFY2bkdhMFk3N1U/view?pli=1

Kerala government employees to get hike in salary, retirement age to be raised by 2 yrs

Thiruvananthapuram:
A handsome hike for government employees’ salaries and an increase in
their retirement age to 58 from the present 56 are among the key
recommendations made by Kerala’s 10th Pay Commission.

The panel, headed by Justice CN Ramachandran, handed its report to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a function here today.

Among
the various recommendations of the much-awaited report includes a
proposal for minimum salary of Rs 17,000 and maximum of Rs 1.2 lakh for
government employees under various categories.

High school
teachers with service of 28 years should be promoted to the post of
deputy headmasters, it proposed, adding that the minimum period of
service needed for awarding pension should be lowered to 25 years from
the present 30.

Accepting the report, Chandy said that the
government would consider the recommendations and take appropriate steps
regarding those.

An official release said that the first part of
the report, that covers pay revision and pension, has been handed in now
with the next part to be submitted within November.

One Day Strike on 2.9.2015 & Indefinite Strike from 23.11.2015 – Confederation News with Charter of Demands

Confederation
of Central Govt Employees & Workers has uploaded an important
message on its blog yesterday that the decision of nationwide one day
strike on 2.9.2015 and indefinite strike from 23.11.2015 as per the call
of National Joint Council of Action. The Resoluation of National
Executive Committee and the Charter of Demands also published. The
complete text of the message has been reproduced underneath…

2015 SEPTEMBER 2 NATIONWIDE ONE DAY STRIKE AS PER THE CALL OF ALL CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS AND INDEPENDENT FEDERATIONS

2015 NOVEMBER 23 NATIONWIDE INDEFINITE STRIKE AS PER THE CALL OF NATIONAL JOINT
COUNCIL OF ACTION OF ALL JCM NATIONAL COUNCIL STAFF SIDE ORGANIZATIONS
INCLUDING RAILWAY, DEFENCE & CONFEDERATION.

CONFEDERATION NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING DECIDED TO MAKE BOTH THE STRIKES A GRAND SUCCESS.

CIRCULATE NOTICES, PAMPHLETS, POSTERS AMONG ALL EMPLOYEES. EXHIBIT IN ALL WEBSITES.

STRIKE NOTICE FOR 2ND SEPTEMBER STRIKE SHOULD BE SERVED BY ALL AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS ON 11TH AUGUST 2015.

Dear Comrades,
The National Executive Committee meeting of the Confederation of Central
Government Employees & Workers was held at New Delhi on 12.07.2015.
Affiliated organizations, General Secretaries of State Committees
(COCs) and CHQ office Bearers attended the meeting. Com. K. K. N. Kutty,
National President, Confederation, presided. After detailed
deliberations for about six hours, the meeting took the following
important decisions.

(I) 2nd SEPTEMBER 2015 NATIONAL STRIKE:

1. Confederation and all its affiliated organizations shall participate
in the Nationwide one day strike on 2nd September 2015 as per the call
of all Central Trade Unions and independent Federations.

2. Charter of demands on which the strike is being organised on September 2nd by Confederation shall include
(1) 12 point common charter of demands affecting all sections of the Indian working class and
(2) 10 point charter of demands of the central government employees formulated by the National Joint Council of Action.
(See Charter of demands attached – Annexure-I)

3. Intensive campaign should be conducted among all Central Government
Employees by each individual organisation by holding General body
meetings, conventions, office-to-office campaign and gate meetings.
Notices, pamphlets and posters should be printed and circulated to all
offices and employees. Wide publicity should be given through print and
electronic media. All websites of affiliates shall exhibit the campaign
details, photos etc.

4. Confederation CHQ Leaders shall visit all important centres
throughout the country between August 16 to 31st and address Joint
Conventions/meetings of the employees. Meetings should be organised by
the state/District level units of the Confederation (C-O-Cs). Advance
planning should be made by the C-O-Cs to make the campaign programmes of
Al India Leaders a grand success, by ensuring maximum participation of
employees from all affiliated organisations (Details of the campaign
programme will be published in the website within two days.)

5. State/District Units of the Confederation shall plan and organize their own campaign programmes at state/District level.

6. Strike notice will be served by Confederation CHQ to the Cabinet
Secretary, Government of India on 11th August 2015. On the same day each
individual affiliated organsiation of the Confederation should also
serve strike notice to their respective Departmental heads.
Demonstrations in front of all important offices should be held on 11th
August 2015. Copy of the strike notice served by each organisation
should be sent (email) to confederation CHQ.

7. All affiliated organisation shall make maximum efforts to ensure
participation of maximum number of employees in the 2nd September
strike. More than 10 crores organised and unorganised workers will be
participating in the strike.

8. All affiliated organizations should issue their own separate
circulars to all the lower units directing the
Branch/District/Divisional/State/Circle level leaders to start campaign
work immediately and also to ensure maximum participation of employees
in the strike.

(II) 23rd NOVEMBER INDEFINITE STRIKE:

1. Confederation and all its affiliated organizations shall commence
their own independent intensive campaign especially among grass-root
level workers from now onwards.

2. At the same time Confederation state/District level leadership
(C-O-Cs) should take initiative to organize joint conventions of
National Joint Council of Action at maximum possible centres.

3. Immediately after the 2nd September strike and after submission of
report by 7th CPC, the Confederation National Executive will meet again
and decide further programmes to intensify the campaign programme for
the success of 23rd November indefinite strike.

4. A Resolution adopted by the National Executive regarding 2nd
September one day strike and 23rd November indefinite strike is enclosed
herewith.

(III) OTHER DECISIONS:

1. The All India Two days Women’s Workshop of Confederation will be held
at Hyderabad on 9th & 10th October 2015. About 150 lady delegates
from all affiliates and C-O-Cs will attend the workshop. Quota fixed for
each affiliate and C-O-Cs will be circulated shortly. Delegate fee per
head is fixed as Rs. 500/- (Rs. Five Hundred only). All affiliated
organizations and C-O-Cs are requested to ensure maximum participation
in the workshop. Travel tickets of the delegates may be booked well in
advance.

2. Next National Conference of the Confederation will be held at Chennai
(Tamilnadu) before September 2016. The Tamilnadu state Committee of the
Confederation (C-O-C) shall finalise the dates/month in consultation
with CHQ. Efforts may be made to hold the Conference in July itself.

3. Financial position of the Confederation CHQ was reviewed. It is
noticed that many affiliates have not remitted their due quota. It is
decided to instruct all affiliates to clear their quota arrears before
31st August 2015. Delegates to the National Conference will be fixed
based on the quota remitted by each affiliated organizations and C-O-Cs.
Needless to say that for smooth functioning of the CHQ and also for
undertaking campaign programmes funds is a must.

4. Decided to nominate Com. R. Seethalakshmi, Convenor, Women’s Sub
Committee, Confederation to the Women’s Committee of the Trade Union
International (TUI)-Public an allied services functioning under world
Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

6. Decided to extend full support and cooperation for the successful
conduct of the Asia-pacific region meeting of the Trade Union
International (TUI) – Public and Allied Services at Delhi during the
month of November 2015.

Meeting ended at 5 PM.

M. Krishnan
Secretary General

ANNEXURE – I

2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 STRIKE CHARTER OF DEMANDS

PART-I

1. Urgent measures for containing price-rise through universalisation of
public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity
market.
2. Containing unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation.
3. Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or
exemption and stringent punitive measure for violation for labour laws.
4. Universal social security cover for all workers
5. Minimum wages of not less than Rs. 15,000/- per month with provisions of indexation.
6. Assured enhanced pension not less than Rs. 3000/- P.M. for the entire working population.
7. Stoppage of disinvestment in Central/State PSUs.
8. Stoppage of contractorisation in permanent perennial work and payment
of same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for
same and similar work.
9. Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity.
10. Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days
from the date of submitting applications; and immediate ratification of
ILO Convention C 87 and C 98.
11. Against Labour Law Amendments
12. Against FDI in Railways, Insurance and Defence.

PART-II

1. Effect wage revision of the Central Government Employees from
01.01.2014 accepting memorandum of the staff side JCM; ensure 5-year
wage revision in future; grant interim relief and merger of 100% of DA;
Include Gramin Dak Sevaks within the ambit of 7th CPC. Settle all
anomalies of 6th CPC.
2. No Privatisation, PPP or FDI in Railways, Defence Establishment and no corporatization of Postal services.
3. No ban on creation of new posts. Fill up all vacant posts.
4. Scrap PFRDA Act an re-introduce the defined benefit statutory pension scheme.
5. No outsourcing, contractrisation, privatization of governmental
functions; withdraw the proposed move to close down the printing
presses, the publications, form stores and stationery departments and
medical stores Depots; regularize the existing daily-rated/casual and
contract workers and absorption of trained apprentices.
6. Revive the JCM functioning at all level as an effective negotiating
forum for settlement of the demands of the Central Government Employees.
7. Remove arbitrary ceiling on compassionate appointment.
8. No labour reforms which are inimical to the interest of the workers.
9. Remove the ceiling on payment on bonus
10. Ensure five promotions in the serve career.

ANNEXURE-II

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CONFEDERATION HELD ON 12.07.2015 AT NEW DELHI.

1. The National Executive of the
Confederation which met at New Delhi on 12.07.2015 decided unanimously
to endorse the call of the Central Trade Unions and independent
Federations in the country for organizing one day nationwide strike on
2nd September 2015 to oppose the ongoing aggressive neo-liberal economic
policies of the Government of India. The National Executive has decided
to call upon all its affiliates to organise intensive mobilization
campaign to reach out to each and every Central Government employees.
The National Executive has also decided to deploy the National and state
leaders of Confederation for a wider campaign amongst the Central
Government employees in all states and District capitals of the country.

2. The meeting also noted with grave
concern the rejection of a 5 years wage revision for Central Government
Employees by the 7th Pay Commission and consequent demand of the benefit
of merger of DA an Interim Relief. The meeting also noted the advisory
articles appearing in the corporate/controlled media against the wage
revision of Central Government Employees to influence the recommendation
of the 7th CPC. The meeting noted with grave concern the negative
attitude of the Government towards three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks of the
Postal Department by refusing to include them in the 7th CPC. The
meeting decided to exhort the affiliates to bring the contents of the
memorandum of the staff side JCM once again to the employees and prepare
them for the proposed indefinite strike action of the CGEs including
Railways and Defence workers from 23rd November 2015. It was also
decided that besides the National charter of demands of prepared by the
Central Trade Unions, the 10-point Charter of demands of the JCM staff
side National Council shall form the combined charters of demands of the
Central Government employees for the strike action on 2nd September
2015.

3. The meeting decided to appeal to all
state committees and affiliated organizations to take active part in all
meetings and conventions organised by Central Trade Unions, jointly
with state Government Employees Federation, Bank, Insurance and other
public sector undertakings. The Confederation and its affiliates shall
serve strike notice for the 2nd September strike on 11th August 2015 by
holding massive demonstrations at the respective work places.

201. Industrial employees working on night shifts are eligible for Night Duty allowance on the basis of weightage of 10 minutes for every hour of night duty performed between 22.00 hours and 6.00 hours at the rates specified in the Government orders Issued from time to time.

For calculation of weightage, duty for less than half an hour shall be ignored and, duty for half an hour and more but less than one hour shall be reckoned as one full hour.
The rounding off of fractions of an hour shall be made with reference
to the, actual hours of night, duty performed in a month (i.e. wage
period) and not on daily basis.

Night duty allowance not be admissible during overtime hours
if any falling within the night duty hours. The allowance will not be
treated as `Pay’ for purpose of piece work earnings or for other
allowances admissible to the employees. The night duty allowance payable
to the industrial employees shall be booked to work order number
02/00003/00 and the work order is exempt from DA levy.

Note: – In the muster rolls, the period of night shift indicating the
time of commencement and closing of such a shift in respect of workers
on night duty should be specifically indicated by the factory.
The net hours of work between 22.00, hrs and 6.00 hrs. performed by
the workers daily during the normal hours of night shift duty (i.e.
after excluding the period of recess, shift leave, overtime etc. during
that period) ‘,which hours qualify for night duty allowance should be
shown separately in muster roll and progressive weekly and monthly
Carried over as done in the case of normal booking, of attendance.

Night Shift bonus

196. A night shift represents the hours worked between the
termination of the day shift and the normal opening hours of the next
day. The piece workers who Perform overtime work under Departmental
rules in the night shift will be paid an extra half hour pay termed as ‘Night shift bonus‘
calculated at the hourly rate of 1/200 of the monthly basic pay plus
dearness allowance, special pay, personal pay, pension (to the extent
taken into account for fixation of pay in the case of re-employed
pensioners) and city compensatory allowance for every hour of systematic
overtime under Departmental Rules worked on the Night shift in addition
to their piece yearnings. This element is not admissible to day
workers.

The undersigned is directed to refer to PNM/NFIR’s item No.11/2015 on
the above subject and to state that the matter has been examined in
consultation with Estt. Dte. of Railway Board and they have clarified
that Board’s instructions dt.14.09.2012 applies exclusively in cases,
where candidate being considered for appointment on compassionate
grounds are not meeting the minimum qualification for entry into the
Government service that is, in Grade Pay Rs.1800 /- and the
word ‘trainees’have been coined only for this limited purpose. It has
nothing to do with trainees (who get stipend and not salary) in various
posts of Grade Pay Rs.1900 & above, where it is mandatory for
persons to complete the training sucessfully, before joining a working
post.

In view of the above position, Federation’s demand is not feasible for acceptance.